We hurried down the trail and caught up to the tail. Xander and the others were buried in the ranks of soldiers near Cathal.
I kept us back and looked Roisin over. “So I’m guessing your grandma’s the person who raised you.”
Roisin was all smiles as she nodded. “Yes.”
“She seems like a pretty tough customer.” Roisin gave me a blank look. I sighed. “I mean she looks pretty stern.”
My new friend nodded. “She is, but she is very fair. Many from the city come to her for judgment with their problems.”
I arched an eyebrow and studied her. “So how come you don’t speak like her?”
Roisin blushed and looked away. “I speak as the city-dwellers speak so I might communicate easily with them.”
“But they didn’t want to talk to you,” I guessed.
Her shoulders fell and she shook her head. “No, they did not.”
“Why?”
Roisin bit her lower lip. “I would rather not say.”
I gave her a nudge and a smile. “What’s a little secret between-”
“What a pleasure to meet such beautiful ladies once more.” Roisin and I started forward when the red dragon made his appearance from behind us. He split us in two with his arrival and held his customary smirk on his lips as he looked first from Roisin then to me. “Have I startled you?”
I glared at him. “No, we just don’t like the stench of asshole.”
His smirk never faltered. “I must remember to change my scent with perfume. You both, however-” he leaned toward me and sniffed the air as his eyes flickered to Roisin, “-you hold some rather unique smells.” He grasped my arm with his cold, clammy hand. “What secrets does your-”
His sick romancing was interrupted when a hand grabbed the red dragon from behind and yanked him backward. The dragon stumbled a few yards before he regained his balance and glared at the interloper, Spiros. The captain of the Alexandrian guard pressed his lips together and whistled a high-pitched tune.
I glared at my old friend. “You were stalking us again, weren’t you?”
He kept his narrow-eyed gaze on the red dragon as he spoke. “I was merely watching you.”
Things got interesting when Xander pushed through the crowd of soldiers with Cayden and Cathal close at his heels. The whole company stopped as my dragon lord faced off against our red-winged foe. “What is the matter?”
Spiros nodded at the dragon. “He meant to interfere with Miriam.”
The red dragon scoffed. “I meant no such thing. I was merely chatting with the young women.”
I snorted. “Maybe small talk for a viper.”
Cathal glared at him. “I ordered you not to bring your differences to my island.”
The red dragon bowed to him. “My apologies if my sign of friendship was taken as an assault on the beautiful Maiden. I meant no disrespect.”
“Then why did you follow us so far in secret?” Spiros challenged him.
Our foe smiled and shook his head. “I cannot imagine to what you refer, but seeing as I am not welcomed here I will take my leave.” He bowed to King Cathal. “If you will excuse me, Your Highness.”
He turned and walked away. Xander turned to the king. “I would advise you to keep careful watch of that dragon, Your Highness.”
The king smirked. “None of my guests are ever alone on my island. He will be watched.”
Our large group continued on to the open meadow. We were greeted by the same friendly group who had threatened our lives before. The leader marched up to Cathal and saluted before he glared at us. “All is well here, My King.”
“That is well, Captain Garda, but did the reports sent to me this morning not say others had disappeared?” Cathal wondered. The man glanced past his king and at us. Cathal half-turned and followed his gaze to our group. “They have convinced me of their sincerity, and shall assist in find the culprit who steals our sheep. Whatever you have to say to me may be said in their presence.”
Garda pursed his lips, but returned his attention to Cathal. “The reports are accurate, My King. Another five have vanished.”
“What exactly happens, Your Highness?” Cayden spoke up.
Cathal frowned. “Four months ago our sheep began to disappear. The quantity was not great, never more than three, but they were taken at least every other night. I have kept guards around the Sacred Grove, but though they are diligence and observant they have seen nothing of the thieves.”
I wandered away from the group and mingled among the grazing sheep. They gave the pool of water a wide berth and kept mostly to the perimeter of the meadow. Along the side opposite the path entrance stretched a wooden watering trough. The fresh timbers and glistening nails told me it was new.
I looked over my shoulder at the others and nodded at the trough. “Why’s that here?”
Garda followed my nod and pursed his lips. “The sheep have often refused to drink from the pond since the others began to disappear.”
I pointed at the pond. “That’s the one with the god, right?”
Xander arched an eyebrow and looked to the king. “What god is this?”
Cathal scoffed. “It is nothing more than legend. An old tale to amuse our children.”
Roisin stepped forward and swept her gaze over the group. “But the tales are true. A god was once there.”
Cathal looked to her and his eyebrows crashed down. “Only a fool would believe a god resided in a pond when all wise men know there are no gods.”
I walked over and put my hand on her shoulder before I glared at Cathal. “Then I guess I’m a fool because I believe in gods, and I believe there was one in that pond, because you know what-”
“Miriam,” Xander spoke up.
I whipped my head to him. “What?”
He closed his eyes and shook his head before he turned his attention to Cathal. “Perhaps what is needed is fewer men.”
Cathal arched an eyebrow. “Why is that?”
Xander nodded at the men that surrounded the meadow. “The thieves are bold, but they may be more bold were no one to be seen.”
The king furrowed his brow. “Your idea has a great flaw. How is anyone to stop them if no one is there?”
The sun caught on the polished bones of the skull. That’s when the crazy idea hit me.
“We could get somebody kidnapped with the sheep,” I suggested. All eyes turned on me, and many had questioning glances. I shrugged. “Why not?”
King Cathal arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
I nodded at the skull helmet that lay against his hip. “Somebody could dress up as a sheep and when the thieves come to steal them they could give a shout or something.”
The king folded his arms and slowly nodded. “Your idea has merit. My men will try it this very night.”
“And I will volunteer myself as the lamb to slaughter,” Xander offered.
“As will I,” Spiros spoke up.
“It’s my idea, so I get to do it,” I insisted. I crossed my arms and looked the men up and down. “Besides, you guys are a little big for sheep.”
Xander shook his head. “I will not allow you to-” I stomped my foot against the ground and put my hand on my hip.
“You can’t protect me forever, and even if you could I don’t think I’d want you to,” I argued.
He pursed his lips. “What do you mean?”
I stepped forward and grasped his hands before I looked him in the eyes. “I love your chivalry, and you’re so cute when you’re playing the hero and saving my life all the time, but I want to be a part of this. I want to be a part of your life, and I can’t do it from the sidelines.”
He blinked at me. “The ‘sidelines?’”
I rolled my eyes. “I can’t do it from the rear, okay? I’ll just keep stepping on your heels, so how about we do this protecting thing together, side-by-side?”
A small, crooked smile slipped onto his lips. “You have the face of an angelic being and the wisdom of a seer.”
“And I’m as stubborn as a mule and won’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” I quipped.
Xander turned to Cathal. “My Maiden will be among your sheep and call out if something is amiss while we hide ourselves at a distance. Will that be satisfactory to you?”
Cathal pursed his lips. “One sentinel will hardly work to catch these cunning thieves. Allow one of my men to-”
“I will be a sheep,” Roisin spoke up.
The king turned to her and frowned. “You are hardly a replacement for any of my men.”
I marched to Roisin’s side and draped my arm over her shoulders before I glared at Cathal. “I’m not taking anybody else with me. Besides, I don’t think Mac Bradaigh would like it if you didn’t let her help out. That’s why she’s here, remember?”
Cathal frowned. “Very well, but I take no responsibility toward her.” His eyes flickered to Xander and Cayden. “We will set the women out in the field and hide ourselves an hour before dark.”
Cayden bowed his head. “We look forward to assisting you, Your Highness.”
Cathal marched around us with his men and left the field. Xander came up to stand beside me. His face was tense as he studied mine. “Are you sure you wish to perform this risky task?”
I jerked my thumb at the pond and winked at him. “If I have any trouble I’ll just use a little bit of water to help me.”
His eyes drilled into mine. “I feel your motive is not as altruistic as you wish it to appear.”
I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That you are hiding your true intention in volunteering,” he returned.
I pursed my lips and looked past him at the pond. “Well, let’s just say there’s a legend about a water god that I’d like to see for myself.”
He nodded, and looked past me at Roisin. “Do you also wish to go through with this task?”
She nodded. “Yes. I wish to prove myself to everyone, and to my grandmother.”
I rubbed my hands together. “Now all we need to do is wait.”